Page 30 of More Bite than Bark

He released her and let her clamber off his lap before he headed for the kitchen.

“I wasn’t sure how sweet you want it, so I haven’t added sugar yet,” Elle called after him.

“Whatever you want is fine by me, sugar.How much would you normally add?”

“About three quarters of a cup.”

He wondered for a moment if he owned any measuring cups, and where they might be if he did, then decided he could just wing it as he pulled out the sugar and poured some in.If it wasn’t enough, they could add more later.

By the time he’d stirred in the sugar and fixed a glass, before he had a chance to take it to her, Elle padded barefoot into the kitchen.“All done?”he asked.

She nodded.“I’ve got an appointment tomorrow.”

He lifted his brows.“That was fast.”He didn’t know what kind of appointment she’d scheduled, but next day was pretty quick, no matter what.

“They had a cancellation, plus the nurse said the doctor prefers to see women between six and ten weeks, apparently I’m already close at the ten week mark,” she said with a shrug as she slid onto one of the barstools and watched as he moved around the kitchen.

She’d been scheduling a doctor’s appointment.

“Are you worried about anything?Why the rush?”

Elle shook her head.“Not worried but I wasn’t expecting this.I don’t know what I’m doing, and I want to make sure this little one stays healthy.”She set her hand low on her belly.

He set her tea in front of her and moved around to stand behind her.The barstools had a short back, but it wasn’t tall enough to keep her from leaning back against his chest.Hex wrapped his arms around her, letting one hand rest on top of hers as they stood for a moment.

“Are you sure this is what you want?We can take a trip.Just you and me.We can go to Atlanta, or somewhere, and we don’t have to do this, sugar.”

“Do you not want this?”Elle’s voice shook as she tilted her head back and looked up at him.

Hex looked down and met her gaze.It didn’t matter that her face was upside down and all he wanted to do was to kiss her, to pull her into his arms and carry her back to his bed.

“I do, baby.I’ve dreamed of this, I want this child and you, but if it’s not what you want, then I won’t force you to go through with it.I won’t pressure you or make you feel bad.”He took a deep breath and kept going.He needed to get this out, he needed to say these things to her, no matter how much they made his heart ache.“If you want to have the baby and give it up, I’ll take it.I’ll raise it without you if you don’t want it.”He forced himself to swallow down the lump in his throat.“I want it all.I want you here with me, with us, but if it’s not what you want, I won’t make us all miserable by trying to force it.”

“You don’t make me miserable, Kevin.I’m not sure you ever could.No, let me say that again.There are things you could do to make me miserable, but I don’t think you’re the kind of guy who would do them.I don’t want to give this baby up.I want to keep it, and I want to be here with you, to raise it with you, if that’s what you want?”

Hex hated the uncertain tone in her voice.He didn’t want her to doubt him, ever.Elle lifted her head, then rested the back against his chest.He didn’t say anything.He suspected keeping her head tilted back like that had started to hurt.He couldn’t resist the urge.Hex leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

“It’s what I want, sugar.”Hex kept his voice soft.

His mind spun with all the things he needed to do.Making sure whatever shit Anderson was into didn’t splash back on to Elle was number one.Well, make that number two.They needed to figure out what the Demented Souls wanted them to do with their guest and handle that, then Anderson and making sure Elle was safe and happy would be the priority.

Speaking of, Wrath should have heard back from Jake or Gizmo by now, Hex should reach out and see if they had an answer yet.

“What’s the plan for the rest of the day?”Elle asked interrupting his thoughts.

“The prospects will finish loading up the stuff at your place and bring the stuff you wanted here.I want you to tell them where you want it, but I don’t want you lifting or carrying anything.I need to head up to the clubhouse for a little bit, as I’ve got a few things to take care of.”

“And I need to stay here and wait for the prospects,” she said as if finishing for him.

Hex frowned.Did she want to go to the clubhouse with him?

“No.You don’t need to stay here.I can reach out to the prospects and have them let us know when they’re headed this way.That would give you plenty of time to get back here, if you want to go with me.”

Elle turned to look at him, this time twisting the seat on the bar stool and turning in his arms.

“I’m allowed at the clubhouse?”

Hex’s frown turned to a scowl.